Job Description

Please note:

City of Lincoln Council do not accept CVs.

We are looking for a customer focused, enthusiastic and confident adviser to join us in our busy Welfare & Money Advice team.

We provide advice to the residents of the Lincoln and North Kesteven district by telephone and face-to-face, either office-based appointments or visiting customers in their own homes.

Our service provides comprehensive benefits advice including helping customers identify relevant benefit entitlement, form completion and assisting in challenging benefit decisions. We also provide debt advice. We are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and work under the umbrella of the organisation Community Money Advice (non-MAPs funded). Full case work involves income maximisation, budgeting, preparing financial statements and negotiation with creditors.

We are looking for a candidate who is a good team-player and ideally a trained debt adviser, or willing to train in this area. Applicants should have a good working knowledge of DWP benefits.

The role is part time, and we will consider a variety of working patterns to suit the requirements of the successful applicant and the needs of the team. The role is also career graded, incorporates hybrid working and can be based in Lincoln or Sleaford.

Key responsibilities:

- To promote a "one stop" approach to service delivery across the joint authorities of City of Lincoln and North Kesteven District and to demonstrate an understanding of the duties and responsibilities of other sections within the partner local authorities and other external stakeholders.

- To provide Benefit advice, and the support and information customers need to access their full benefit entitlement in a customer-focused, professional and cost-effective manner.

- To promote financial inclusion and those services appropriate to households with low-incomes, unmanageable debts or other vulnerabilities. This is to include working on take-up campaigns and the promotion of appropriate financial services.

The successful candidate will be able to demonstrate:

- Ability to perform towards targets for caseload and outcome.

- Experience of dealing with the public in a customer service capacity involving both telephones and face-to face contact.

- Ability to learn benefit rules, assess information and use knowledge to decide objectively on individual entitlements.

- Ability to be responsible for council resources.

- Ability to transport oneself around the city.

- A detailed knowledge of the whole range of Social Security and welfare benefits, including Universal Credit, retirement pensions and disability benefits.

Benefits we offer:

- Flexible working options / Flexi time scheme.

- Generous annual leave entitlement plus bank holidays.

- Local government pension scheme (currently 23.4% employer contribution).

- Employee online discount scheme (including cinema, retail / supermarkets and homeware / tech).

- Health and Wellbeing support.

- Sustainable Travel Options (Tax free bike scheme and discounted City parking).

In order to complete your application, please visit our website. You will find the essential criteria required for the role in the person specification section of the job description, so please ensure you address this in your supporting statement.

All external candidates are subject to satisfactory pre-employment checks and a 6-month probationary period. This role also requires a standard DBS check.

Please be aware that the City of Lincoln Council does not hold a UKVI sponsor licence and is therefore unable to sponsor work visas. If you think you may require a visa to work in the UK, please refer to UK Visas & Immigration before applying as you may be eligible to work in the UK via an alternative visa route.

As a Disability Confident Scheme employer, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the vacancy.

Job Types: Part-time, Permanent

Pay: 26,518.00-31,741.00 per year

Expected hours: 30 per week

Benefits:

Company pension Cycle to work scheme Employee discount Flexitime Health & wellbeing programme
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Lincoln LN1